Corral de comedias

During the Spanish Golden Age, corrals became popular sites for theatrical presentations in the early 16th century when the theatre took on a special importance in the country.

Representations of comedias were instead held in the courtyard of houses or inns where a stage with background scenery was improvised along one of the sides.

This corral, formerly a courtyard theatre, has been roofed and used as a teatro romántico and a cinema, leading to major changes in the building's architecture.

[4] This only functioning courtyard theater still standing, once one among the many, [5] annually celebrates the Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico (International Classical Theatre Festival);[2] There are recently found remains of a corral in Torralba de Calatrava,[2] which the municipality wished to rebuild in 2006.

An awning, hung from hooks, protected the men of the common public who sat in the patio from the sun, avoiding contrast between sunlit and shaded areas, such as was found on stage and in the courtyard.

Smoking was forbidden because of the risk of fire, and from October to April the comedia began at two in the afternoon, in the spring at three and at four during summer, in order for all to finish before sunset.

The audience paid fees at different points: at the entrance, then a tip to the "brotherhood" or beneficiary, and a third one for the privilege of a seat so they could watch the play comfortably.

Two characters were instantly recognized in the corrales: the mozo, maintainer of order, equipped with a big garrote to calm the excited spectator, and the "spacer", that is, the one in charge of finding a suitable place for an individual in between two others.

[13] Among its provisions, was the presence of a bailiff whose function was to ensure that no noise, tumults, or scandals ensued and that men and women were kept separated in their respective seating by the required entrances and exits.